Summer sun protection the all-natural way

Words and translated by Audrey Liu

Hot summer days are upon us and when you go outdoors it's a good idea to try using a natural suntan oil, lotion, spray, gel or other topical product to protect yourself from UV rays and avoid getting sunburned or too dark. However, what's the best way to choose a sun-protection product from among various brands?

First, we need to know the value of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or PA (protection grade for uv light) shown on the label of the product. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Australia's Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA), sunscreen labels may only go up to SPF50, due to lack of evidence that higher levels provide more meaningful protection. The SPF rating is a measure of the fraction of sunburn-producing UV rays that reach the skin. The difference between SPF15 to SPF50 is actually very small. Therefore, it's enough to use SPF15 under normal circumstances. It is also important to note that sunscreens with a higher SPF do not last or remain effective on the skin any longer than those with a lower SPF. Thus, it's a good idea to continually reapply sunscreens every two hours.

Besides these products' protection against sunburn or darker skin, there is one more notable key point for consumers to take into consideration. You should also check whether there are any chemical preservatives inside your sunscreens, such as parabens, which may cause cancer. You can go to the following website to check products and then decide which ones to buy (http://www.cosdna.com). You can also visit the American Skin Cancer Foundation website (http://www.skincancer.org) which lists and recommends sunscreens and cosmetics under different certifications.

Proper and knowledge and investigation of these products before purchasing them will help ensure that you enjoy better, natural and safe sunscreens!